The Aarthi and Sriram Show

First episode of 2025! For our very first episode of the year, we invited Justine and Olivia Moore, who are Partners at Andreessen Horowitz VC firm, focused on investing in all things AI. We covered a wide range of topics from the current funding landscape in AI startups, defensibility, their favorite AI startups as well as what 2025 is going to look like for the AI landscape. Enjoy!

It’s the end of 2024 and we put together the best content of this year in one final year-end episode. We categorized the content into 3 segments - 1. Silicon Valley stories and lessons 2. AI and what’s in store for us for the future 3. Advice and guidance - for being the best version of yourself in 2024. We loved talking to the guests this year and have big plans for 2025. Thank you for joining us in this journey and we hope you enjoy this Wrapped episode!

Aidan Gomez is the CEO and co-founder of Cohere. Aidan was an intern at Google Brain in 2017, when he helped co-author the now-famous “Attention Is All You Need” paper that conceptualized the transformer and eventually kicked off the Generative AI boom. He then left Google in 2021 to start Cohere, an AI startup valued at over $5b, that specializes in building LLMs for enterprise customers. In this conversation, we cover it all - from Aidan's childhood in Canada, his foray into computers and the internet, landing an internship at Google by accident, starting Cohere and what sets Cohere apart from other LLM businesses.

We chatted with Mark Pincus - in his own words, he is the "most unmanageable founder in tech". He was the CEO of the mobile gaming platform, Zynga, and is an outspoken critic of the current state of media and journalism. In this episode, we covered it all - from his take on the US elections, the state of media, the story of Zynga, then the comeback story, him meeting Zuckerberg and investing in Facebook and about the product culture of Zynga. This was great fun for us and I hope you enjoy it too!

Aarthi and Sriram talk to Ishan Mukherjee - a multi-time Silicon Valley based startup founder, launching his new AI startup Rox. Coming from a small town in India with working class beginnings, Ishan tells us his story of immigrating to the US, starting and exiting multiple companies, working at companies like Amazon and Apple and essentially, living the immigrant American Dream.

The year is 2024 and it has been a few days since the remarkable US elections. Trump is now President elect. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy (both former guests of our podcast!) are leading DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). What does it all mean for tech, for startups and for skilled immigration? What is the future of journalism and media? Is this election a one of one, or is this the first of many podcast elections? We cover it all here in our solo episode. Chapters 00:01:00:17 – 00:03:21:15: One week after the US elections ⁠00:03:19:26 – 00:14:12:00: DOGE and Elon Musk 00:14:15:21 – 00:22:22:17: Elon, Trump and the new government  00:22:34:07 – 00:27:48:05: The podcast election  00:27:55:07 – 00:33:25:13: Views on journalism - the decline of wired magazine  ⁠00:33:38:03 – 00:47:39:19: Sriram’s view on skilled immigration and country caps  00:47:46:26 – 00:58:35:22: Views on the Trump government  ⁠00:58:50:10 – 01:00:44:26: RFK Jr, FDA and the American food system ⁠01:00:48:27 – The end

The one where our show becomes the Aarthi, Sriram and Anil show? Sriram and Aarthi are joined by Anil Varanasi, the CEO and co-founder of Meter, the company building networking hardware. In this wide-ranging conversation, Anil shares his fascinating journey from his and his brother’s unconventional upbringing, his ability to find and fund talent early, to building Meter, including stories of sleeping in Chinese factories and why Meter is building AI models. And then, the tables turn and Anil asks the hosts some great questions. Enjoy!

Sriram and Aarthi are joined by Gokul Rajaram who is a Silicon Valley icon. Gokul has done it all - founder, angel investor, executive at the best of the best technology companies such as Facebook and Google, and best of all, a good friend and guide to Aarthi and Sriram during their career inflection points. We covered everything from Paul Graham’s famous essay on Founder Mode, Gokul’s experience working with Mark Zuckerberg and Larry and Sergey, his hot takes on AI startups, and the current fundraising climate.

Vinod Khosla is a renowned Silicon Valley venture capitalist and the founder of Khosla Ventures, known for his instrumental role in shaping the technology landscape. With a rich background as a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a forward-thinking investment approach, Khosla continues to drive innovation across various industries.

Sriram and Aarthi break down how to actually benefit from networking in your career.

Kevin Kelly played a pivotal role in the establishment of Wired magazine back in 1993, where he assumed the role of executive editor during its formative seven years. His journey in the tech and digital landscape began even earlier when he contributed to the launch of The Well, a groundbreaking online service, in 1985. Prior to Wired, he also held positions as the publisher and editor of a branch of The Whole Earth Catalog. Beyond his media ventures, Kevin Kelly is deeply involved in shaping the future through his role as the co-chair of the Long Now Foundation, a membership-based organization dedicated to promoting long-term thinking and fostering responsibility toward future generations. His accomplishments have made him an iconic figure among the early cohorts of technology professionals. Yet, Kelly's influence extends to the younger generations entering the workforce as he's equally passionate about sharing his valuable insights as a futurist.

Sriram and Aarthi open up about balancing parenthood while working in tech. One of the most common questions Sriram and Aarthi get is “How do you folks handle parenting and your work/schedule/life”. They had resisted for years as they felt everyone’s situation and choices were unique. However, they recently got convinced that this could be useful to listeners.

We had the great David Goyer on to talk about all things Foundation, how he reinvented superhero movies with Batman, his writing process, and much more! Ask anyone about the greatest movies of the last 20 years and the Dark Knight Trilogy will be up there near the top. David Goyer has lived out every nerd’s fantasy and has had a hand in creating some of the most iconic movies and TV shows - the Dark Knight series, Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman among many others. His latest effort is the TV form of what may be the holiest book in sci-fi - Asimov’s Foundation. Aarthi and I love the show and we had a blast talking to David about the new season, working with Nolan and much more.

We are back after the break and we have big news - we moved to London! In this episode, we discuss our move, the new startup scene in London, our new life across the UK, the Elon Musk book, the value of business school, and more. Leave us questions for our next solo episode!

Golden State Warrior's Andre Iguodala jumped on the podcast to share the secrets behind his wins both on and off the court.  Andre Iguodala is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the basketball court. You may know him as the power forward for the Golden State Warriors but he is also a prolific tech investor. How did Andre get so dialed into the world of investing? What can athletes and investors learn form each other? How does Andre scope out the best founders to invest in? We get into it all!

Get ready to be amazed by Zarna Garg, the Indian mom who's taking the comedy scene by storm! Ever wondered how she went from running the household to opening for Tina Fey? Well, wonder no more, because she's spilling all the hilarious details on the Sriram and Aarthi show.

In this episode, we wanted to do something different. We reviewed what is probably the movie of the summer - Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. We wanted to do this for two reasons: a) it might be one of the best cinematic experiences we have had in a while and b) it has many implications for issues we see today.

Is it time for you to look for your next job? Should you haggle over your salary? How should you network while being busy with your current job? Having worked in the tech industry for over a decade and a half, Sriram and Aarthi are here to help you with your job hunt.

We are thrilled to host the incredibly talented Marc Guggenheim, the genius behind the Arrowverse. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of comic books, superheroes, and TV show production. From his memorable work on Arrow to the pressures of delivering a successful TV show, we explore the genius of J.J. Abrams and the weaponization of nostalgia. Marc shares his insights on managing fans' expectations, establishing themes in storytelling, and offers a glimpse into his information diet. Plus, we discuss the exciting Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what TV should explore next from comic books. Don't miss this engaging and informative conversation with the visionary behind some of your favorite superhero stories!

In this episode, we sit down with music industry titan Steve Stoute to delve into his remarkable journey from getting fired to becoming a music mogul. Discover how Steve's visionary thinking and groundbreaking strategies forever changed the landscape of the music industry. Join us as we explore the resilience and innovation that propelled Steve Stoute to reshape the game and leave an indelible mark on music history.

Join us for an amazing conversation featuring Robin Arizon as she shares her remarkable journey from lawyer to Peloton Instructor. Robin opens up about her transformation and provides insights into her week as a fitness professional. Gain valuable tips on becoming a great workout instructor and discover the relatability of women in the fitness world. Robin also reflects on her experiences as a founder, offering advice on branching out and finding confidence through hard work. Get ready to be motivated as she discusses living up to fame and reveals her exciting future plans. Additionally, learn valuable tips on getting started with your own fitness journey.

Join us as we welcome Vitalik, the co-founder of Ethereum, on our podcast! In this episode, Vitalik shares his thoughts on recent news and lessons learned from the crypto industry. From discussing financialization and incentives in crypto to exploring the aftermath of the crypto craze, we delve into what the future holds.

In this episode, we dive deep into his latest piece on 'Why AI Will Save the World'. We get into the piece and some of the critiques and really go all out.  🎙️ The Aarthi and Sriram Show: Aarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan host conversations with leading builders, and CEOs and reveal what it takes to make it to the inside.   🔊 Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CuAlPdZGhV1yxShmdcYh6?si=1f1ef00601ce46d0 🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aarthi-and-srirams-good-time-show/id1624345213 📕 Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/profile/113921987-aarthi-and-srirams-podcast  📷 Follow Sriram on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/ 🐦 Follow Sriram On Twitter: https://twitter.com/sriramk?s=20 📷 Follow Aarthi On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/?hl=en 🐦Follow Aarthi On Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarthir

Welcome to this podcast episode featuring Olivia Moore and Bryan Kim from a16z, where we dive deep into the world of venture capital! Join us as we explore the secrets of becoming a successful VC and learn invaluable insights on stepping into the thrilling VC landscape. Discover the crucial dynamics between founders and VCs and gain expert advice on building strong relationships in this ever-evolving industry. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation that will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the world of venture capital with confidence! Subscribe now and unlock the secrets to VC success! 🎙️ The Aarthi and Sriram Show: Aarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan host conversations with leading builders, and CEOs and reveal what it takes to make it to the inside.   🔊 Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CuAlPdZGhV1yxShmdcYh6?si=1f1ef00601ce46d0 🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aarthi-and-srirams-good-time-show/id1624345213 📕 Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/profile/113921987-aarthi-and-srirams-podcast  📷 Follow Sriram on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/ 🐦 Follow Sriram On Twitter: https://twitter.com/sriramk?s=20 📷 Follow Aarthi On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/?hl=en 🐦Follow Aarthi On Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarthir

Join us for a captivating episode with Congressman Ro Khanna as we explore an array of thought-provoking topics. From his early life and the immigrant experience to his impactful tenure in Congress, Ro Khanna shares his remarkable journey. Gain valuable insights into the dynamics between Silicon Valley and Washington DC and discover his compelling message for the tech hub. Dive into the future of artificial intelligence, as Ro Khanna discusses its potential benefits and drawbacks. Explore the decentralization of tech, the US-India tech landscape, and Ro's reflections on patriotism. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that delves into the tensions between policymakers and tech while providing a vision for a harmonious tech ecosystem. Tune in now to be inspired by Congressman Ro Khanna's legacy and the intersection of policy and technology. 🎙️ The Aarthi and Sriram Show: Aarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan host conversations with leading builders, and CEOs and reveal what it takes to make it to the inside.   🔊 Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CuAlPdZGhV1yxShmdcYh6?si=1f1ef00601ce46d0  🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aarthi-and-srirams-good-time-show/id1624345213 📕 Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/profile/113921987-aarthi-and-srirams-podcast  📷 Follow Sriram on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/  🐦 Follow Sriram On Twitter: https://twitter.com/sriramk?s=20  📷 Follow Aarthi On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/?hl=en  🐦Follow Aarthi On Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarthir